Insertion tool

ABSTRACT

A tool ( 1 ) to insert a plurality of elongated flexible electric conductors ( 4 ) into the slots ( 3 ) of an elongated flexible insulating housing ( 2 ). The tool ( 1 ) has a passage ( 13 ) through which the housing ( 2 ) and conductors ( 4 ) move to have the conductors ( 4 ) urged into the slot ( 3 ). The passage ( 13 ) is bordered by a plurality of ramps ( 10 ) which engages the conductors ( 4 ) to urge them into the slot ( 3 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tool to insert an electricalconductor into a housing, and more particularly but not exclusively, toinsert simultaneously three conductors into three correspondingextending slots in an electrical housing.

1. Background of the Invention

International patent applications such as PCT/AU97/00589 andPCT/AU95/00675 disclose elongated flexible insulators which house anumber of elongated flexible conductors. Difficulty has been experiencedin assembling the conductors in the insulator.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a device that could quickly,cheaply and easily insert one or more electrical conductorssimultaneously into an electrical housing.

2. Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate someof the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a usefulalternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a tool to insert elongated flexible conductorsinto an elongated housing.

the housing providing a plurality of longitudinally extending slots atleast one of which is to receive one of the conductors, said toolincluding:

a body having a passage through which the housing and each conductorpasses during insertion of each conductor in an associated slot of thehousing;

guide means mounted on the body and positioned to slidably engage andsupport the housing so that the housing is restrained to move along apredetermined path in the body; and

said guide means including at least one insertion means to slidablyengage one of the conductors to apply a force thereto to force said oneconductor into the associated slot.

Preferably, said insertion means are in the form of ramps along whichsaid conductors slide.

Preferably, said housing includes three longitudinally extending slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the tool in situ;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation of the tool as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective parts exploded view of the tool ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of one part of the tool of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of another part of the tool ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of another part of the tool ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another part of the tool ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the accompanying drawings, and in particular reference to FIG. 1,there is schematically depicted a tool 1 having a passage 13 whichreceives an elongated flexible insulating housing 2 provided with aplurality of longitudinally extending slots 3. Each of the slots 3 beingadapted to receive a flexible elongated electrical conductor 4. The tool1 includes a body 5 providing the passage 13 through which the housing 2and each conductor 4 passes during insertion of each conductor 4 into anassociated slot 3 of the housing 2.

Guide means 6 is mounted in the body 5 and is positioned to slidablyengage the housing 2 to restrain the housing 2 to move relative to thehousing 2 along a predetermined path through the body 5. Guide means 6includes at least one insertion means 7. The guide means 6 slidablyengages and supports the housing 2 as it moves past the insertion means7 along the predetermined path, defined by the passage 13, that theinsertion means 7 slidably engaging one of the conductors 4 to beinserted in one of the slots 3. Each slot 3 is adjacent a restrictiveone of the insertion means 7 so that each of the conductors 4 is forcedinto an associated slot 3.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the tool 1 during operation where threeconductors 4 have been inserted into three corresponding slots 3 byrespective insertion means 7. Guide means 6 is generally shown includingguide flanges 8 and 9 which are adapted to support and guide the housing2 through the body 5 of the tool 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the tool 1 illustrated in FIG. 1better showing the guide means 6 including the insertion means 7 andguide flanges 8 and 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective parts exploded view of thetool 1 of FIG. 1. In this particular case, the body 5 has beenmanufactured in four separate parts 14 to 17 which are assembled andsecured together by threaded fasteners (not shown) which are insertedthrough holes 11. The body 5 may however be formed in one piece. In thisexploded view of body 5, flanges 8 and 9 are more clearly shown whilstinsertion means 7 now shows ramps 10 each of which when slidably engagedwith one of the conductors 4 applies a force to the conductor 4 to forceeach conductor 4 into the associated slot 3 of the housing 2.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show individual perspective views of each of the parts ofbody 5 exploded in FIG. 4. These figures have been included to moreclearly illustrate the guide means 6, flanges 8 and 9, insertion means 7and ramps 10.

Each ramp 10 is inclined so that the space between the ramp 10 andopposing surfaces 12 of the body 5 reduces in the direction of movementof the housing 2 with respect to the body 5, so that the conductors 4are urged into slots 3. The ramps extend generally in the direction ofmovement of the housing 2 through the body 5.

Part of the passage 13 is bordered by a support part 18 which slidablyengages the housing 2 and provides opposing surfaces 12. The part 18 isconfigured to match the configuration of the housing 2.

Located on the part 14 and projecting into the passage 13 is aprojection 21 which engages the adjacent conductor 4 to displace theconductor 4 to a position for insertion into the associated slot 3.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificexamples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theinvention may be embodied in many other forms.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:
 1. A tool to insertelongated flexible conductors into an elongated housing, the housingproviding a plurality of longitudinally extending slots at least one ofwhich is to receive one of the conductors, said tool including: a bodyhaving a passage through which the housing and each conductor passesduring insertion of each conductor in an associated slot of the housing;guide means mounted on the body and positioned to slidably engage andsupport the housing so that the housing is restrained to move along apredetermined path in the body; and said guide means including at leastone insertion means to slidably engage one of the conductors to apply aforce thereto to force said one conductor into the associated slot. 2.The tool of claim 1 wherein the insertion means are ramps extendinggenerally in the direction of said path but are inclined so that thespace between the ramps and opposing surfaces of the body diminishes inthe direction of movement of the housing through the body to therebyurge the conductors into the slots.
 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein thetool is an assembly of a plurality of parts including a support partproviding said reaction surfaces, which support part is of aconfiguration matching the configuration of the housing.
 4. The tool ofclaim 2, wherein the tool is an assembly of a plurality of partsincluding a support part providing said reaction surfaces, which supportpart is of a configuration matching the configuration of the housing.